Susan grinned. “Tell Jenny that a certain chef is already filling every waking hour I have with menus for his Christmas events. I go to bed dreaming about Christmas trees and garlands decorated with huckleberry crumble pies.”
Paul laughed. “I’d sooner you dreamed about me, but there are worse things than huckleberry pies. I’ll send Jenny back with your soup.”
After Paul returned to the kitchen, Kathleen leaned forward. “That man is completely smitten with you.”
“I know,” Susan replied with a blush heating her cheeks. “And I think he’s pretty amazing, too.”
When their soup arrived, steaming and fragrant, Susan took her first spoonful and closed her eyes. The butternut squash was perfectly balanced—sweet but not cloying, with just enough sage for depth.
“Is it that good?” Kathleen asked with amusement.
“Better,” Susan admitted. “Paul’s got such a light hand with seasoning. I go too bold sometimes, but he knows exactly when to pull back.”
“And you push him to be more creative,” Kathleen observed. “You should work together more often.”
Susan laughed. “I’ll tell you if that’s a good idea after we’ve gotten through the BioTech Christmas events.”
They were halfway through their soup when Kathleen set down her spoon. “I need to ask you something. It’s about Tommy.”
Susan frowned. “Is he okay? Isabel didn’t say anything was wrong.”
Kathleen’s eyes widened. “Oh, it’s nothing life-threatening. Isabel wants to convert the smallest bedroom in their home into a study for Tommy. Frank and Patrick are building new furniture for him, and Isabel asked me to choose the paint colors. I don’t know why she asked me.”
“It’s because you have the best color sense of any of us,” Susan told her dear friend. “Your home is gorgeous.”
Kathleen sighed. “It’s easier to decorate when it’s your own house. I want Tommy’s study to feel special, but I don’t know whether to use warm or cool shades.” Kathleen pulled out her phone and showed Susan some images. “What do you think of these colors?”
Susan studied the soft blues and grays. “What does Tommy like?”
Kathleen sighed. “He’s happy with anything, and so is Frank. Isabel just wants Tommy to be happy.”
“Maybe you could match the colors to Tommy’s personality,” Susan suggested. “He’s thoughtful and likes to read for hours. He also has a great sense of humor and loves playing with his friends.”
“And he likes to go hiking with his granddad and Isabel.” Kathleen pulled a color chart out of her bag. “I brought this with me in case we needed to compare colors. What about this shade of green? It reminds me of the forest. Or we could try something like the blues or grays I first showed you.”
Susan studied the pale green color. “I like this one. It’s inviting without being overpowering. And you’re right. Green is the color of nature. I think it will look wonderful in Tommy’s study.”
Kathleen tilted her head to the side as she studied the color in a different light. “The warm wood furniture that Patrick and Frank are making will balance it beautifully. Thank you.”
“I’m glad I could help,” Susan said. “If you need another pair of hands to paint the room, just ask.”
“I might just do that,” Kathleen said with a smile.
After they’d finished their soup, Kathleen pushed her bowl aside and leaned forward. “We need to talk about Lynda’s bachelorette party.”
Susan groaned softly. “I was wondering when you’d bring that up. Isabel said we needed to do something.”
“She’s been texting me ideas non-stop for the past three days,” Kathleen said with a laugh. “You know how she gets when she’s planning something special. And this is Lynda we’re talking about—the woman who never thought she’d find love again.”
“I know.” Susan’s resistance melted at the reminder. “What did Isabel come up with?”
Kathleen pulled out her phone and scrolled through her messages. “She sent me a list. Option one: a spa day at that new place in Kalispell. Massages, facials, the works.”
“That sounds relaxing,” Susan admitted. “What else?”
“Option two: a wine tasting tour. There are several wineries within driving distance, or we could book a tour. Then no one has to worry about driving.”
Susan considered it. “Lynda would enjoy that. She’s been learning about Montana wines since she moved here.”
